Posted by Dick Hosmer on Tuesday, 7 April 2009, at 11:02 a.m., in response to 1877 Carbine, posted by David Hodge on Monday, 6 April 2009, at 9:47 p.m.

It appears you have a rather late usage of the dated plate, and 1873 sight. All else seems perfectly believable, AS LONG AS THE PATINA ALL MATCHES!!! The swivel band occurs well into the high 80xxx.

However, I do not understand your use of the term "like" an 1877 buttplate - it either is or it isn't - OR, I suppose you COULD have some sort of "experimental prototype" design which would need SERIOUS hands-on review. Is the buttplate slot the "keyhole" type, or plain oval? When you say stock is 1873, do you mean it has a long wrist? AFAIK, the wrist/comb change came first, as genuine M1877 stocks are known without trap, but GENUINE 1873 stocks with (any kind of) trap are really still "questionable" at this point in time. And, someone COULD have upgraded an early stock. If the inletting for the trap spring, or cavities, is of less than arsenal (crisply machine-done) quality that would be a clue.

Please advise the real serial number, and give a proper link to pics (one small-scale side view isn't going to answer many questions) if you truly want better responses. Thanks.